Aims

Students will learn about enterprise design patterns, platform interoperability and the development of distributed applications. What is learned is then applied within a group project.

Brief description

This module explores the development processes, techniques and technologies for constructing Internet-based, distributed software systems. Particular emphasis is placed on studying and applying design patterns and architectures. Students, working in small groups, will build, using a modern software engineering methodology, a distributed application that employs the technologies and concepts taught in this and previous modules.

Content

Lectures
1. Introduction to module. Provides a road-map to the module, with a brief overview of main concepts and how they interrelate.

3. Design issues. A number of enterprise application design patterns will be reviewed within the context of technologies discussed in 2. Building distributed applications requires developers to know more than just technologies, they must also know and use design techniques suited to their development. Students will learn about reusable enterprise design patterns, and in particular those used for the development of distributed applications.

4. Wider issues. Examination of current issues that are related to 2 and 3, e.g. scalability; approaches to testing and deployment; containers and the use of cloud computing.

Group project
1. Group Project Tutorials. Students will be required to undertake a group project where materials taught in this and earlier modules will be applied to build a distributed application. Students will be required to choose, justify and follow an appropriate software development methodology.
Tutorials will be undertaken throughout the project to set out the content of the project, and the terms on which it will be developed and assessed. Such tutorials will be undertaken where students are able to complete their project with the help and advice of teaching staff.

2. Written Material. Various written material giving guidance on carrying out the project, assessment issues, and the project submission is provided by the Department.

Module Skills

Skills Type

Skills details

Application of Number

Inherent in subject

Communication

Students will practice communication skills during the tutorials and group assignment.

Improving own Learning and Performance

The assessed coursework requires students to develop their understanding of issues associated with the module.

Information Technology

Inherent in subject.

Personal Development and Career planning

Gives students the flavour of life as a professional software engineer.

Problem solving

Deciding on an appropriate design when developing a software engineering application.

Research skills

Students will be required to acquire further knowledge from books and on-line sources.